After peaking in June 2025, the German logistics climate cooled again in July. The Sci Logistikbarometer index slipped back below zero, signalling a decline in sentiment and a less favourable assessment of current conditions. A majority of respondents, equal to 69 per cent, described the situation as stable, while a quarter judged it unfavourable and only a small share, 6 per cent, considered it positive. In June, 38 per cent of operators reported an improvement, but expectations for the coming months have become more cautious: 31 per cent foresee a more favourable environment, 56 per cent anticipate stability and 13 per cent expect deterioration.
This fragile balance is also reflected in cost and price dynamics. After a period of relative calm, operating expenses resumed their upward trend in July, with 27 per cent of companies reporting an increase, mainly driven by higher diesel prices. Expectations for the next quarter point in the same direction, with an identical share of firms anticipating further increases.
Pricing, on the other hand, remains largely unchanged. Eighty-three per cent of operators kept their tariffs steady, while 9 per cent raised them and 8 per cent reduced them. Looking ahead, three-quarters of companies do not expect any changes, although the share of those seeing room for growth is on the rise. Overall, the sector still perceives profitability as balanced, yet squeezed by intense competition and a demand unable to absorb available capacity.
One positive signal comes from the operational front. Waiting times for trucks at docks continue to improve: more than half of companies report stops of less than half an hour, compared with 46 per cent a year earlier, while the proportion of those facing delays of more than an hour has dropped to 30 per cent, down from 80 per cent in 2023. The underlying causes of slowdowns, however, remain structural. The main issue, cited by 78 per cent of respondents, is a shortage of staff for loading and unloading. This is followed by rigid time slots, highlighted by 44 per cent, and other factors such as overly complex acceptance procedures, ramp infrastructure bottlenecks and incomplete documentation.
The Sci Logistikbarometer, running since 2003 and published in cooperation with the trade magazine DVZ, provides a monthly snapshot of the sentiment of around 200 companies in the sector, offering valuable insight not only into short-term fluctuations but also into medium-term trends.
